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Well-related Savabeel leads the way on day two at Karaka.
A colt by Savabeel (Zabeel) created fireworks late in the day during the second session of New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka 2020 Book 1 on Monday, when Te Akau's David Ellis went to NZ$875,000 for the yearling from the Windsor Park draft, which was a new record for the farm at the sale.
This colt is out of Bayrock (Fastnet Rock), who is a sister to dual Group 1 winner Merchant Navy and Group 2 winner Jolie Bay. The trio are out of Legally Bay (Snippets) who is herself is out of two-time-winning mare Decidity (Last Tycoon), making her a half-sibling to Myer Classic (registered as Empire Rose Stakes) (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Bonaria (Redoute's Choice) and Group 3 winner Time Out (Rory's Jester).
Decidity also produced four-time winner Chatoyant (Flying Spur), who is herself the dam of Group 3-winning duo Tessera (Medaglia d'Oro) and Montsegur (New Approach).
This is the first time Bayrock's progeny have been offered in New Zealand with her two previous foals selling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with her Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) filly selling to Ciaron Maher for $300,000, who was called Earth Star and is now dead, while the sister to this colt - now called Al Smomookh - was purchased by Shadwell for $825,000 at last year's sale and she is unraced.
"He is one of the nicest colts we have ever brought here to the sale, so we're very happy," Windsor Park stud master Rodney Schick said.
"John O'Shea was underbidder but DC (Ellis) and Jamie (Richards) are very strong and they have had such great success with the Savabeels.
"What a great sire Savabeel has been for New Zealand and for the sale again this year.
"It is really such a great result for us."
Ellis said he was hoping to get the colt for NZ$750,000, but said he was prepared to stretch his budget for the son of Savabeel, adding that Jamie Richards in particular was very excited to be taking the colt back to Te Akau.
"I was hoping I would get him for $750,000 but these really top colts have a lot of good judges on them so sometimes you have to pay a bit more for them," he said.
"If he is a really top colt, like I hope he is, then he is going to be cheap otherwise if he is no good then he's going to be very expensive.
"We thought he was a magnificent individual and Jamie is so excited to have him to train.
"It's been a very successful couple of days for Te Akau and we're just delighted to have secured so many nice horses.
"It's pretty exciting to have this sort of quality and I want them for both Te Akau and for New Zealand racing as I want them to stand at New Zealand studs.
"If we are going to take this wonderful industry to the next level then we need them. The only avenue we have is to buy them at the sales as if they become top performers, they are worth 10, 20, 40 million and out of our reach."
The colt is the second highest priced yearling so far at the sale better only by a son of Pierro (Lonhro) who made NZ$900,000 on the first day.
